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I feel a target on my back: Jason Day

Ben Everill

Jason Day feels like he has a target on his back as he attempts to make his biggest golfing dreams come true at the Masters.

The 26-year-old Australian has made it very clear his biggest goals are to win the Masters and become world No.1, two enormous achievements he is possibly just four good rounds away from realising on Sunday.

Despite not playing for seven weeks since his win in the WGC-Match Play Championship, Day is Masters third favourite behind only Rory McIlroy and defending champion Adam Scott.

The hype around his chances is obvious after finishing second and third in two of his three previous Masters while injury marred the other.

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"I feel the target on my back," said Day.

"I have a shot to win this week and I have a shot to get to No.1 and that's huge.

"It's always been big for me but you can't get there without taking the first steps so it's going to be all about staying in the present.

"I'm aware people are looking to me to win this week and it's great to have that feeling because it means you are doing the right things.

"I've had great success here over the last few years but now it's time to try to do that little bit better."

Day declared the thumb injury which forced his layoff was no longer an issue and, having arrived at Augusta national a week ago and fitted in extensive practice, he insisted rust wasn't a problem either.

Coming off a similar length off-season break he placed second at Torrey Pines early this year.

"I've played a lot of (practice) holes and it was good to really get the mental process of the swing back in place," he said.

"It's a great place to do it here as there are so many people and practice rounds can feel like tournament conditions unlike other weeks.

"It gets the competitive juices going again.

"There are no excuses."

Scott rounded out his preparation with another practice round, taking Masters rookie Matt Jones through his paces.

Jones, who's coach Gary Barter and parents Vicki and Kevin arrived from Sydney, enjoyed the experience and followed it up by making a hole-in-one in the afternoon's pre-tournament par-three contest.

Amateur Oliver Goss won closest to the pin on the fifth hole of the nine-hole par-3 event, a high bettered by the chance to meet and chat with Jack Nicklaus.

Steven Bowditch, Marc Leishman and John Senden also rounded out their final day of practice with a family-oriented trip around the par-three course.